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Amid tensions and accusations of violence, Vučić invites protesters to a public debate in front of all television stations
2025-08-22 16:04:18 / BOTA
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has invited representatives of the protesters to a public debate, which could be held in front of all television stations and portals.
He made this invitation public through a video on Instagram.
Students of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Belgrade responded to Vučić's call, saying that they will only talk to the Serbian president when he announces new elections.
"It is clear that there is no answer to the people's revolt, so now he will talk to us, who have been calling us terrorists for months. We will debate visions and programs for the future during the pre-election campaign, when he announces elections ," the students said.
Protests have been taking place in Serbia for more than nine months, with the main demand being to determine responsibility for the deaths of 16 people in the collapse of a concrete shelter at the Novi Sad Railway Station.
The students leading the protests consider new elections an inevitable step, as "the state has done nothing regarding responsibility for the tragedy" in Novi Sad.
Meanwhile, the government in Serbia has refused to announce early elections.
" I invite representatives of the blockade movement to a public conversation and debate on visions, to talk about our plans and programs for the future, and to together condemn the violence on our streets ," Vučić said in the video released on August 22.
The Serbian president said that the protests have been going on for nine months now and that "a part of the people in our country want change."
" First, these were presented as demands for justice, and then they openly started talking about political changes and demands for elections, although they previously denied them. Despite everything bad that I think about their demands, I believe that it is very important to listen to each other. I think it is crucial that we resume dialogue in our Serbia ," Vučić stressed.
He underlined that in the past period he has tried to listen to his political opponents, but admitted that he has not always done this sufficiently.
" I accept this as my mistake, but I am ready not to talk about violence in the streets, because we do not need any civil war, nor clashes or violence. I want to talk about the future of Serbia. All together, because this is the best for our Serbia ," he said.
Therefore, as Vučić said, "I propose and offer conversation and debate on all our televisions and portals, with legitimate representatives, whom they choose themselves."
" When I say them, I mean the representatives of the blocking student movement – professors, politicians, students... Let's enter into dialogue, into debate with those who think differently. They have the right to demand this from their president, including in the elections ," said the Serbian president.
According to him, the goal is to "try together to find the best possible solutions for our country and present our programs."
" The time has come to show the faces of each of us, but much more important than that is to show the programs and present the visions. I want us to have a competition of visions, a battle for the future, to solve this with dialogue and conversation, as every citizen of our country would want. Without clashes and without violence. To rebuild the state, to return it to the right position where it was nine months ago ," declared Vučić.
At the end of the video address, he said that he believes he will do everything he can to show respect, but that he wants the other side to be heard as well.
" This is my offer, more than fair. I want to enter into the debate and I want both sides to present their vision and plans. For Serbia, at this moment, this is the most important thing. Then the citizens will have the opportunity to see which vision is real and true ," said the Serbian president.
While protests continue in Serbia, attacks by supporters of Vučić's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) against protesters in various cities across the country have intensified in recent days.
Regarding reports of excessive use of force by the Serbian police – especially against minors, journalists and women, including the case where a police officer threatened a detained student with rape – the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality in Serbia, Brankica Jankovic, has also reacted.
She demanded that the violence stop and called on members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to treat all citizens in Serbia equally./ REL
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